Пролетая над гнездом кукушки

           ShewasalreadytheBigNurseintheoldplacewhenIcameinfromtheOutsidesolongback,andshe’dbeendedicatingherselftoadjustmentforGodknowshowlong.

           AndI’vewatchedhergetmoreandmoreskillfulovertheyears.Practicehassteadiedandstrengthenedheruntilnowshewieldsasurepowerthatextendsinalldirectionsonhairlikewirestoosmallforanybody’seyebutmine;Iseehersitinthecenterofthiswebofwireslikeawatchfulrobot,tendhernetworkwithmechanicalinsectskill,knoweverysecondwhichwirerunswhereandjustwhatcurrenttosenduptogettheresultsshewants.Iwasanelectrician’sassistantintrainingcampbeforetheArmyshippedmetoGermanyandIhadsomeelectronicsinmyyearincollegeishowIlearnedaboutthewaythesethingscanberigged.

           Whatshedreamsofthereinthecenterofthosewiresisaworldofprecisionefficiencyandtidinesslikeapocketwatchwithaglassback,aplacewherethescheduleisunbreakableandallthepatientswhoaren’tOutside,obedientunderherbeam,arewheelchairChronicswithcathetertubesrundirectfromeverypantlegtothesewerunderthefloor.Yearbyyearsheaccumulatesheridealstaff:doctors,allagesandtypes,comeandriseupinfrontofherwithideasoftheirownaboutthewayawardshouldberun,somewithbackboneenoughtostandbehindtheirideas,andshefixesthesedoctorswithdry-iceeyesdayin,dayout,untiltheyretreatwithunnaturalchills."ItellyouIdon’tknowwhatitis,"theytelltheguyinchargeofpersonnel."SinceIstartedonthatwardwiththatwomanIfeellikemyveinsarerunningammonia.Ishiverallthetime,mykidswon’tsitinmylap,mywifewon’tsleepwithme.Iinsistonatransfer—neurologybin,thealkytank,pediatrics,Ijustdon’tcare!"